Now this was cool.
Aiyana's scent touched my nose. I tracked her to the sleeping black wolf whose head nestled next to Stephan's, the dark brown wolf huddling at my back. A smile crested my lips. They looked absolutely cute together. The rest of her furred body contoured my thighs and calves. Following Stephan's body, a blond wolf rested at my head. By the scent, I knew it was Adam. His blond furry body curved a tad, as if in an attempt to act like a pillow.
Panning around the lounge again, I noticed Seth lying on the sofa with Isabella asleep on top of him, both in human form. He wore a pair of black silk pajama bottoms while she had settled for a light blue lace teddy with matching bikini underwear. Thank goodness they wore clothes.
I took in the rest of the room. It was as grand as all the others and left me equally astounded. A cathedral ceiling and mustard-colored walls boxed the room. A large oil painting of Seth and Isabella hung over the massive fireplace. He sat in a straight back chair while she stood behind him smiling, her hands resting on his shoulders. Seth was a dispassionate model if I ever saw one. Other pictures adorned the walls: the pack members caught in action poses or simply posing. Underneath us, a beige mohair rug covered the hardwood floor where I recalled a glass oval coffee table once sat. Opposite Seth and Isabella's couch was a matching dark chocolate leather couch where Bryce laid, an arm covering his face and a light snore raising and lowering his chest. A bar jutted out from the wall a few feet behind him, where two half-filled glasses of scotch sat on coasters. Three windows about nine feet high had beige curtains drawn tight over them. A set of French doors stood opposite the windows and another set opposite the fireplace.
"You fell asleep,” Seth said in a deep relaxed tone. His eyes opened. “People die of hypothermia when they fall asleep. Isabella and I undressed you, dried you off, and wrapped you in the blanket."
I wanted to die. Being naked didn't bother me. Having perfect strangers undress me was another question. Couldn't they have just—I don't know—wrapped me in the blanket?
"When did everyone show up?” I asked, fingers clutching the fibers from underneath.
Seth tightened his hands around Isabella's waist and added, “After we mingled with you to get you warm."
Gross! I tried so hard not to gag at that thought. Seth spooned behind my naked body? Nasty.
"What time is it?” I asked.
"About one-thirty in the morning.” Pausing, he stared a moment longer. “You're still shivering. Go back to sleep."
Matt's head lifted. He licked my shoulder, inching his muzzle closer to my face. I giggled. He clutched the blanket between his sharp canines, whining and tugging at the rim.
"It's better to get warm his way,” Isabella yawned
Her heavy eyelids parted. Smiling, she stretched the length of her body and let out another yawn. I had had no idea she was awake and listening to our conversation. Flipping her black tufts behind her shoulder, she rose from the sofa, exposing the front of her light blue teddy and D-size breasts. She knelt in front of me and touched the edge of my blanket.
"Relax,” she said. “I know you're not used to this, but trust me."
My quivering body jolted a few notches. Gulping, I nodded once. I knew Isabella didn't want to hurt me, because she had had plenty of opportunity for that earlier. Her motherly smile persuaded me to shed my guards and let my dignity melt away.
Locking her smile in place, she began peeling back the blanket. With her mind on business, she didn't seem to notice that my nipples had perked from the slight chill in the air. Isabella gestured me towards my husband. I knew what to do because I had done it so many times in the past.
Holding him like a body-length pillow, I lay one side of my limbs on top and huddled into his opulent body heat. Sleeping next to him in wolf form was like sleeping with a fur coat heating pad. Being nude made it all the more. Sighing, I burrowed my nose in the nape of his neck, planting kisses throughout his lavish fur.
Stephan's dark brown head lifted. Isabella peeled back more of the blanket, pulling it out from underneath me and exposing the rest of my naked body.
Oh boy. I hoped she hadn't picked up on that slight tingle in my crotch. If I blushed, again, Isabella didn't pay it any mind.
She gestured for Stephan to scoot closer; he practically leaped at the opportunity. My heart thudded too fast to count the beats. He nudged my hip with his nose. Then a quick flick of the tongue followed. A giggle slipped out of my mouth before I could catch it. Aiyana nestled closer and assumed her original position, protecting my thighs and calves. Adam also scooted closer to my head and shoulders.
Before I knew it, I was huddled in a living, breathing mink blanket. Everyone wanted to keep me warm. It was as though they had sensed my cold spots and plugged them with their warmth. Cuddling in a bed of fur and sharing body heat—a girl could get used to this.
Whatever the wolves couldn't cover, Isabella tucked the chenille blanket around. Evan, dark brown, too, though a shade lighter than Stephan, made his approach. He eased his muzzle into my face and licked me on the nose. I giggled, nudging him away. His tongue flecked out again and caught my palm.
"Evan, she's already taken,” Isabella laughed. She pushed his snout away from me and began combing her fingers through my hair. “How do you feel?"
I closed my eyes. “Everything Stephan said about mingling after a run was true. I'm in heaven."
...and blossoming.
* * * *
I woke in Matt's arms, my body lying against his bare chest. Isabella lay tucked close to my back with Stephan spooning her from behind. Everyone was in human form. Someone had dressed me in a turquoise oversized T-shirt that rode up my side and exposed a pair of white panties. Matt pressed his face against the side of my head. Grinning, I angled my head up and kissed his succulent lips. His eyes snapped open.
"You are so gorgeous.” Matt moved a lock of my textured hair behind my ear.
"My husband's not half bad either,” I mumbled, leaning in for another kiss.
"How's your hand?” He took it in his and kissed the back of the bandages. Then he slid his cheek across the back and began caressing it. “Damn, Alexa. It would have killed me if anything happened to you."
"How did I get here?"
"After you went to sleep, we slept a little while longer with you. When you stopped shivering, we changed back. Everyone still wanted to keep you warm, but I brought you up here. Thought you'd find waking up with a bunch of naked people a little disconcerting. Anyway, Isabella shooed everyone off while she and Stephan helped me tuck you in. They stayed a little bit ... but I guess we all sort of fell asleep around you anyway."
"Danielle.” Bits and pieces came back to me. “Something happened to her."
"She's fine,” Isabella said. Then she sat up with her arms resting on either side of my thighs. “Thanks to you, we got her back here in one piece, and her shoulder will be fine. I doubt you'd remember, but her parents called to thank you."
"How are you feeling?” Stephan yawned, stretching his full length before sitting up.
"Exhausted,” I replied. “But I'll be okay."
"Maybe you shouldn't push it.” Stephan kissed me. His emerald green eyes shimmered as he pulled back.
"I still have a job. One where I have to do some work in order to get paid."
"I called in sick for you,” Matt said. “After last night, you of all people need the sleep. You should stay in bed for the rest of the day. Maybe call in sick tomorrow, too.” His hungry eyes looked me over.
A smirk curled my lips. “I plan on leaving bed sooner than that."
What I really needed were answers for last night's disaster. With Decker's scent loitering around the gorge, it would be a matter of time before the pack found out about him. Why he had attacked those hunters and how long they had been out there was the bigger mystery. I'd bet my next book earnings that Dane had left a dozen messages on my cell phone trying to get some answers of his own. Why would he send his minions
this close to the den and bring demented Decker along for the ride?
"We should leave before these two get into a lover's spat.” Isabella leaned closer, planting a kiss on my forehead. “Get some rest, little one. I'll be back to check on you later."
Stephan kissed me too. He smirked at Matt before backing off the bed. Isabella held the bedroom door open for one last look, then closed it behind them.
"I don't care what you say,” Matt said, “you're staying in bed."
"Please. I'm not in the mood to argue with you. I've got enough of a headache as it is."
"Thanks for proving my point.” He pulled my head close to his for another death-defying kiss that filled my mouth. Pulling away, he said, “You scared the hell out of me, you know that?"
"So you've said. You need to stop treating me like a baby."
"As your mother would say, ‘you are my baby.’”
I rolled my eyes.
"Who's Decker?” he asked.
Where the heck did that come from? He whipped it out so fast that I didn't have the time to make up a proper lie. Oops. Did I say that? Leave it to the lawyer in him to get me with a “trap you on the stand” sort of question. I kept my smile intact despite the red alert screaming in my head.
"Why do you ask?” Stall. If nothing else, stall and think of something to keep him at bay.
"You kept mumbling the name in your sleep. Who is he?” Matt didn't seem the least bit perturbed.
"He's someone I knew from work a long time ago. His life changed drastically and he left. Never came back. I've spent the last few days thinking about how lives can change at a moment's notice and how we'd cope.” Damn. That came out better than I thought. Of course, it was partly true, considering the number of people in my life who had died over the past year.
"Hon, things can't get any worse than they were before. I don't know what happened in this Decker guy's life that could be so bad, but it won't happen to us. The only thing we need to worry about right now is me taking Stephan up on his offer and you deciding what you want to do about your job."
"Matt—"
He held a hand up to stop me. “I'm not telling you what to do. All I'm asking is that you think about it. If you pass your real estate exam, then you're on the road to having all the freedom you could ever want."
"You've already made your mind up about Stephan's offer, haven't you?” I shook my head and smiled. “Good lord. Last night we get officially adopted into the pack and now you're going fast forward into becoming their legal consultant and starting your own practice. Lover, you've thrown caution to the wind, you know that?"
He cupped my face in his hands. Overjoyed, he asked, “And what's wrong with that? We've waited a long time for something like this. A pack who loves not just me, but you, too. These guys are ready to be a second family to our children. They'll have aunts and uncles and cousins. Just like the kids from the cookout. I can't think of any other way I'd rather spend my life other than being with you."
I didn't answer him. Instead, I took his face into my hands and crowned him with luxurious kisses.
Yes, honey, I've wanted this too.
* * * *
Matt left that afternoon so I could get some sleep while he and Stephan attended to matters concerning the spa. With most of the pack gone to work, sporadic voices wailed throughout the house. Seth and Isabella had promised Matt they would look after me, but this was one promise I'd help them break.
Taking a chance, I called Dane's hotel room. No one answered. Instead of leaving a message, I decided to leave him something of a more personal nature.
I threw on a pair of beige carpenter pants and a white shirt before slipping out of the bedroom. Taking the Land Rover came to mind, but plowing through the gate would leave a bad impression on our hosts. If I found the main road, I could call a taxi from a convenience store, pick up the other car at home, and drive down to Dane's hotel. So with a plan in mind, I slipped out the back door and headed for the copse.
A tiny giggle caught my attention. Quentin scampered across the lawn and ducked behind a tree. His curly head peeked out before pulling it back. He thought I was playing a game. Great. Leave it to a little kid to spoil the plan. Playing along, I hid behind one of the bushes separating the backyard from the woods. Quentin crept from his hiding place and ran straight towards the bush. Just as he rounded the corner, I grabbed him.
"Gotcha,” I yelled.
His laughs turned to shrieks as I tickled him to the ground. Those hilarious giggles had me longing for kids of my own. His tiny dimples made me smile until my face cramped. He rolled into a ball, trying to get away from me. Like my parents did to us kids, I put my mouth up to his stomach and blew hard, making awful farting noises as the wind escaped around the edges of my lips. I couldn't believe how soft and delicate his skin was. Quentin laughed even harder as he twisted out of my grip. I pulled his striped shirt down, righted him on his feet, and dusted off his baggy pants.
"I hide now,” he whispered, smiling. “You find me."
"Okay,” I laughed.
"No peeking.” He took my hands and laid them over my eyes.
"I'll count to ten, so you find a good place. Okay? One ... two ... three..."
When I heard his footsteps shuffling towards the den, I stopped counting and peeked around the corner. He opened the back door and went inside. With that delay over, I shot through the woods.
Dry, crinkled foliage crackled underneath my feet as I made tracks. I leapt over anything that stood in my way until I came across the gorge again. Images of last night flashed into my head. The blood, torn skin, the shock on the hunter's face. Or what was left of it. I closed my eyes, battening down the eyelids and forcing those horrific pictures from my mind. Sliding down the side, I splashed through the water to the other side and climbed to the top. Some of the dark burgundy blood lay dried on the ground. The metallic smell was still on the air, along with a hint of Decker's scent. Putting it passed me I continued jogging through the woods.
Someone tackled me to the ground. Pain shot through my head, twinkling stars in my vision. Large lips smacked a kiss on my mouth. I swung my elbow up and clobbered the person on top of me. My funny bone tingled down to my fingertips, but my anger doused any laughter.
"Man, you hit hard,” Riley said, holding his hand over his eye.
"Riley?! You son of—” I started wailing on him like a crazy woman. Of all the people to run into, this maniac was the one I got. Just call me cat scratch fever, because I slapped and clawed him in feverish animosity.
Riley snagged my wrists and forced them above my head. In one move, he straddled my waist and leaned in.
"How about a real kiss, Angel? For old time's sake.” He puckered his lips, closed his eyes, and dipped closer for a smooch.
"Kiss me and you'll be missing lips when you pull back."
Not waiting for his response, I raised my pelvis, tipping him forward. With him off balance, he let go of my wrists to keep from falling on his face. I thanked him with a right cross. When Riley fell off, I pounced, wrapping him in a headlock.. He slapped at my arms, gasping for air, blood flushing his cheeks. The thought of breaking his neck came to mind, but that would put me on Dane's extremely bad side. The last person who got on that side of him was still missing.
"Nice move, Angel.” Fisk's broad body blocked out the sunlight as he leaned to offer me a hand.
Mouth agape, I stared longer than I should have. Loosening my hold on Riley, I asked, “Is the whole damn Club here?"
The cocky SOB coughed several times while staggering to his knees. He grabbed my bandaged hand. “What happened?"
"None of your business,” I said, jerking it away. “Where's Dane? I've been calling the hotel and no one's picking up. I've even tried his cell phone."
"He probably went out for lunch or something,” Fisk answered. “We're on watch. In fact, Riley heard someone coming and thought you were a wolf going for a midday run. He wanted a closer look so..."
He darted in front of me and blocked my path. “Hold on a minute, Angel. You can't pull rank. Dane wanted us watching these woods for two contract hits and we're not budging.” He moved a little closer, eyes moving up and down my body. “That is ... unless you give me a reason to budge."
Fisk slid his hand in between us, forcing the rest of his body to follow. He ignored the growl reverberating from Riley. “What are you doing out here anyway? I heard you fell in love with your pack, and now you're running away from them? That doesn't make sense."
"It's a long story and I'm not running away from them. I need to talk to Dane about last night."
"What about it?"
"Decker killed someone. A human.” Their stunned visages forced several thoughts to mind, so I threw one out there. “The hunter shot the wrong wolf, thinking she was Adam, didn't he? Dane sent those lousy-ass hunters to keep watch and they messed up. Mistakes like that can't happen. Hell, I don't even want you guys taking shots at Adam."
"Whoa,” Riley said. “This man. Did he have on a blue baseball cap and two other guys with him? Skinny dude that looks like a turkey and another rounded guy who needs a dose of Rogaine?"
I almost smiled at Riley's perfect descriptions. Almost. “Yes, but what does it matter? Decker killed a human. Heck, the freakin hunter was on our side!"
"Shit,” Fisk cursed, slamming his fist against a nearby tree. “It matters because he shouldn't have been anywhere near here. His job was to stay put at the hotel while the rest of us went to find out where that Du Bois guy lived."
Riley gripped my upper arm and said, “Come on. We need to get out of here before someone spots the three of us together."
Half-Breed Page 23
